Where I Shop & Why: My Frugal Grocery Store Review

My Visit to Publix

One of the stores I stopped at recently was Publix, while I was on vacation in Key Largo, Florida. This is a touristy area, so I expected the prices might be a bit higher, but even then, we were shocked. For example, a 24-pack of soda was priced at over $19, much higher than I’m used to. We only picked up a few items, but overall, everything seemed pricey. I’d love to know what your experience has been with Publix. At the time of making this video, Publix had 1,448 locations across the U.S.

Exploring Food Lion

While in North Carolina, I visited Food Lion for the first time. I always enjoy checking out the produce section at new stores, and I found some fruits and veggies I don’t usually see back home in Kansas. They also had a great gluten-free section.

I picked up a few things to bring home—two large cans of Italian green beans for $2.50 each, which worked out cheaper than buying small cans, and Food Lion brand beans for just 86 cents—much less than Dollar Tree prices. I also grabbed a can of seasoned butter beans, which I like to mix into soups to boost flavor. With 1,170 locations, Food Lion really impressed me with its selection and prices.

Aldi and Trader Joe’s

Back home in Kansas, the stores I shop at the most are Aldi and Trader Joe’s. These two stores are part of the same company, and Trader Joe’s offers many off-brand products that are more affordable than what you'd find in a health food or organic store. Together, these stores have 2,489 U.S. locations. Aldi is my go-to for produce when I don’t have anything growing in the garden. The only product I’ve had trouble with there is the potatoes—a couple of times, they haven’t been great on the inside. So unless I catch a good deal elsewhere, I try to be cautious with potatoes at Aldi.

My Thoughts on Walmart

We also have Walmart, which has around 4,700 stores in the U.S. Honestly, Walmart is usually my last choice for shopping. I find their clearance sections to be a bit misleading—many items are priced the same as usual but simply labeled “clearance.” I’ll only shop at Walmart if there’s a deep discount or a special rebate offer like those from Ibotta. I used to shop there more when I lived in South Texas and had fewer options, but now it’s rare for me to go unless there’s a specific deal.

Kroger, Dillons, and Fred Meyer

Next up is the Kroger family of stores, which includes Dillons and Fred Meyer, with 2,719 total locations. We have a Dillons store in South Central Kansas, and I shop there frequently. I really like their five-for-five and similar promotions, which let you buy in quantity for significant savings. This is where I do a lot of my pantry stock-up shopping. Fred Meyer tends to be on the higher end of the pricing scale, but it’s still part of the Kroger family.

H-E-B in South Texas

When I lived in South Texas, I shopped a lot at H-E-B, which is mostly located in that region. H-E-B offers great store brands, including items like microwave popcorn and some amazing sliced pepper jack cheese that we absolutely fell in love with. I plan to bring some home the next time I’m in the area!

Hy-Vee in Kansas

We have a Hy-Vee store in Topeka, Kansas, and I’ve visited it a few times. However, I haven’t shopped there enough to give you a full review. If you have a Hy-Vee near you, let me know how your experience has been—I’d love to hear more about it!

Club Stores: Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s

The club stores are another option, including Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s. All of them have increased their annual membership fees recently. At our local Sam’s Club, for example, they now charge $25 per added person, where it used to be free to share a membership. Costco is popular, but the nearest one to me is too far away, so I haven’t been there. BJ’s isn’t in our area either, but I know it’s a favorite for many people.

Winn-Dixie in Florida

While in Florida, I also visited Winn-Dixie, a store I used to shop at back in the late ’80s in Texas. After experiencing the high prices at Publix, we ended up picking up most of our groceries at the local Winn-Dixie. It felt much more affordable in comparison.

Dollar Stores: Dollar Tree and Dollar General

Lastly, we have the dollar stores—Dollar Tree and Dollar General. While there are some good deals to be found, you really have to be selective. For example, I didn’t care for the generic Wheat Thins or Cheese Curls at Dollar Tree. The cheese curls tasted a bit stale, and the crackers lacked flavor and crispness. So now, I’m very careful about what I buy there. Once I feel like I’ve wasted money on a product, I tend not to repurchase it.

So, those are some of the major grocery store chains I’ve experienced in different areas of the U.S. Some are more region-specific, while others are found nationwide. I’d really love to know: Where do you do most of your grocery shopping? Do you have favorite stores near you that weren’t mentioned here?